A Godwink Christmas: Meant for Love

This second film of the Godwink series that ran on Hallmark TV is a wonderful Christmas movie. Except for the season and the fact of a young couple meeting, this film doesn't resemble the standard holiday season TV movies of the past three decades. It's refreshing to see an original film that's outside the usual formulaic holiday romance mold.

"A Godwink Christmas: Meant for Love" is a deep story of real love centered around family. The main couple, Alice Marina and Jack Toda, aren't single parents recovering from divorces. They have had past relationships, but neither of them are looking for a mate at the time. Alice is busy running the family clothing store and Jack has just received a promotion in the sales department of a medical supply company. He will be moving back to Minneapolis from the Wisconsin town where he has lived with his uncle the past few years since his parents were killed in an accident. He and his uncle are very close. Alice's dad died when she was young, but her mother remarried and she has a wonderful stepdad, uncle, brother and sister-in-law, and cousins and nephews. The parents of both emigrated to the U. S. from Italy as young adults.

Stories about immigrant parents were very common in the mid-20th century. Many people came from Europe through Ellis Island, New York, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Europeans were still emigrating through the end of the 20th century, though in much smaller numbers as the European countries became more settled after WW II and their economies picked up. So, the parents and uncles in this film who immigrated would have been around the 1970s. To their credit, the actors in this film don't try to imitate slight accents.

Unlike so many other holiday romance movies, in this one Jack and Alice bump into each other a couple of times, and hit it off right away. When they discover that they both have a wedding to go to the next day - the same wedding of a relative cousin on one side and close friend on the other, Alice rides with Jack for the six-hour drive from Minneapolis to the town in Iowa. For that long a drive in the neighboring state, the wedding was probably in Council Bluffs or Cedar Rapids. The two start to see one another frequently, and Alice's family are delighted. There are several twists and interesting subplots in this film, and through it all, the closeness and love of family are evident and felt by Alice and Jack. And, as Alice finds out, her elders knew and understood some things about her better than she did or would let on.

There is wonderful humor in this film, and some very heart-rending scenes as well. The cast all around seem real and give superb performances. It all comes across as so natural and real, that one can easily become emersed in the story. This is a good keeper and ranks with some of the great Christmas movies of the middle decades of the 20th century. It might become a classic to watch each year. Kudos to the producers for finding a real life story of depth, family and love. The ending had still photos of the real Jack and Alice with relatives. The credits say that this film was inspired by the series off books by Squire Rushnell and Louise DuArt..

The filming was all done in British Columbia, and the aerial and the Vancouver city and other photos subbed well for Minneapolis and the other locales in the film. This film is one worth watching each Christmas.

My favorite lines in the film are between Alice and her mom on the phone. Alice says, "Mom, seriously, stop breaking into my apartment." Olga replies, "I have a key, remember?"

While not a flawless or great film in my view, the first film made for very decent viewing. Certainly liked it enough to want to see its 2019 sequel (this film), which did from its premise, the higher rating and that it was better received critically sound like it was potentially the better film. Despite having different leads. Hallmark have always varied with their sequels, some surprisingly good, others mediocre at best. Was hoping that this wouldn't be the latter.

Luckily, it was closer towards the former. Again, there are flaws and it could have been better and done even more with a great premise. But is it superior to the first? In my view, yes it is (though that may be up for debate with others). As far as Hallmark follow ups go, it's towards being one of the better ones. While preferring the leads in the first (different leads here), this was less heavy handed in its messaging and less contrived. Which is why it is superior. Both though have pretty much the same strengths.

Am going to start off with the negatives, which there are thankfully less of when it comes to talking about positives and negatives. It did for me lose its way in the final act or so when the darker and more dramatic tone made it feel like a different film. It was also a gear change that was pretty uneasy and abrupt.

Did feel as well that the ending was a little too convenient and tidy, as well as too hastily resolved. Some of the dialogue is still awkward and goes a little overboard on the sugar.

However, there are a couple of improvements. The messaging is a lot more subtle, thanks to the angle that dominated the first somewhat too much was rammed down the throat less, not used as much and was toned down. The tone is lighter overall too.

Pretty much all the things that were good in the first film are present in here too. It has an at least professional look to it, the scenery is very pretty with a cosy look to it and the photography is slick. The music is generally not as constant or as over-scored as Hallmark Christmas films can be, with some nice soundtrack choices throughout. The direction is assured enough. There are enough moments that made me smile and go "awww".

While the story was a flawed one, it had a sincere charm often, it was often light on its feet and it did warm the heart enough. The two leads are engaging, especially an endearingly optimistic Cindy Busby, and their chemistry is natural and genuine, plus it actually has growth. Kathy Lee Gifford returns and has fun in a role that could have been too annoying, which she avoids being. The characters were more developed than typical Hallmark cliches and they were worth connecting with.

Overall, good and better than the first. 7/10

It was one of Hallmarks good ones. Loved that it was based on a real life couple. I smiled I even had teary eyes... i think more stories similar to this and like the other real life couple where the girl needed a transplant would be amazing and I hope Hallmark continues to do movies like these.

That line got my biggest laugh of the week if not the season.

This movie jammed full of cliche tropes. Snow angels. Baking cookies. Bumping into one another. Stuck running the family business. "You need to get back out there." Must have a Christmas tree. We live too far apart. But - You're up for promotion. We want to expand our business.

We have the beginnings of a promising, though traditional Christmas romance. And then the story takes off with a serious turn and becomes becomes something more. Remember, it's based on a true story.

This movie based on a Godwink, maybe several. Yes, the real life characters believe in God and how He intervenes in our lives, yet the movie touches on that lightly. The belief is acknowledged, but God is not rammed down your throat, and religion even less so. If you aren't into God or religion, there is still plenty to enjoy in this movie. If you are into that, or if your curious, Internet search Alice and Jack Totah.

Cindy Busby, with her optimistic personality, is a good choice for this character. Also, she and Benjamin Hollingsworth really connect.

An outstanding movie where the entire cast makes it a holiday favorite. The leads were believable and connected. Kathie Lee delivered a convincingly good performance as a mom trying very hard to help her family- sometimes in a funny way and sometimes in the best way. Levins is an actor you look forward to seeing on Hallmark features- A multidimensional actor.

The story comes from real events, presented in an excellent production.

All and all one of the best Hallmark Christmas movies of the season you will want to see for years to come. Don't miss this one.